The Cardiff Blues flanker has already captained two Welsh teams to victory at the home of English rugby (2012, 2015) to match the achievement of John Gwilliam (1950, 1952). But no Welsh captain has won three times at the venue.
Wales have won 14 times at Twickenham and are aiming for two in a row against England for the first time since the Grand Slam sides of the Seventies (1976, 1978). Both teams go into the game unbeaten in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations, although England have won all three games up to today and are chasing a 26th Triple Crown.
MATCH FACTS
- England have won their last four test matches since their defeat to Australia during RWC2015.
- England have begun their RBS 6 Nations campaign with victories in the first three rounds and have five times before started with four straight wins, the last in 2013.
- England have not been defeated at Twickenham in the RBS 6 Nations since Wales had an opportunity to take the Triple Crown in 2012 and won 19-12.
- Wales are unbeaten in their last seven RBS 6 Nations matches since England beat them in Cardiff in round 1 last year.
- Wales have won on two of their last three visits to Twickenham to face England – during the 2012 RBS 6 Nations and at RWC2015.
- England have won their last two encounters with Wales in the RBS 6 Nations but have not won three in a row against them since 2004.
- England are attempting to claim a 25th Triple Crown since their first in 1883, although just three of those have been claimed during the RBS 6 Nations era.
ON THE PITCH
- Billy Vunipola has the most carries so far in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations with 58.
- George North has beaten the most defenders after the first three rounds with 16.
- Taulupe Faletau has made the most tackles with 51.
- George Kruis has won the most lineouts with 19, but it is Wales who have the most efficient lineout with 28 wins and only one loss so far.
ENGLAND
- Eddie Jones names an unchanged XV from the side which beat Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations Round 3.
- There are four amendments on the bench with hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, prop Kieran Brookes and centre Manu Tuilagi included for the first time this campaign, and Joe Launchberry recalled after missing out due to injury in the last round. Cowan-Dickie is in line to make his RBS 6 Nations debut off the bench, whilst Tuilagi could make a first appearance for the national team since playing in New Zealand in June 2014.
- Saracens team mates Maro Itoje and George Kruis once more partner each other in the “engine room” the first club pairing in England’s 2nd row since Grewcock & Borthwick for Bath in 2006.
- The XV has 527 test caps between them; the bench has a further 161 caps.
WALES
- Head coach Warren Gatland names an unchanged starting XV for the second time this campaign.
- There are however three changes on the bench, with Ospreys duo Paul James and Rhys Webb coming in for the first time this campaign for Gethin Jenkins and Lloyd Williams respectively, and fit again Racing 92 lock Luke Charteris back in for Jake Ball after missing the RBS 6 Nations round 3 victory over France due to a knee injury.
- The XV has 675 test caps between them; the bench has a further 281 caps.
- The average age of the walk-on team is 26.6 years; the average on the bench is 28.5
WALES AT TWICKENHAM
1910-2015 (v all opposition): P 52 W 14 D 7 L 31
1910-2015 (v England) P 50 W 14 D 7 L 29
Welsh Victories and Captains
1933: 7-3, Watcyn Thomas
1950:11-5, John Gwilliam
1952: 8-6, John Gwilliam
1956: 8-3, Cliff Morgan
1966: 11-6, Alun Pask
1970: 17-13, Gareth Edwards
1972: 12-3, John Lloyd
1976: 21-9, Mervyn Davies
1978: 9-6, Phil Bennett
1984: 24-15, Mike Watkins
1988: 11-3, Bleddyn Bowen
2008: 26-19, Ryan Jones
2012: 19-12, Sam Warburton
2015: 28-25, Sam Warburton
